In the last 10 years, physical education classes in Americas schools have been cut and childhood obesity rates have climbed. A delegation of physical education advocates from the sporting goods industry and other industries traveled to our nations capital last week to reverse those negative trends. To make the case, one Heisman Trophy winner, an NBA legend, a tennis superstar, and other sports personalities joined the lobbying delegation.
The setting for this undertaking was the 6th Annual National P.E. Day today in Washington, D.C. National P.E. Day® was organized by PE4life®, a leading physical education advocacy organization, and the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA).
On National P.E. Day, a delegation of well known athletes, sporting goods manufacturers, sports retailers, health care leaders, concerned citizens, and association leaders visited Capitol Hill to lobby Congress for continued funding of daily P.E. classes in our nations schools. Some of the more prominent people in this delegation included former Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker (Georgia — 1982); former Boston Celtics superstar center Bill Russell; tennis star Jennifer Capriati; and NFL Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow (San Diego Chargers). Other sports celebrities who participated included George Mason University head basketball coach Jim Larranaga, Washington Redskins wide receiver Antwaan Randle-El, Major League Soccer player Alecko Eskandarian, former NBA player/Syracuse great Lawrence Moten, U.S. womens national soccer team member Tiffany Roberts, and former WNBA player Jennifer Azzi.
This alliance walked the halls of Congress to campaign for the Carol M. White Physical Education for Progress (PEP) Bill, which provides grants to local school districts to purchase equipment and hire/train teachers for health and wellness-based physical education programs. The consortium asked Congress to pass the bill for $70-$100 million to continue the PEP program. Today, the group conducted more than 100 meetings with U.S. Senators and Representatives and their respective staffs in their offices on Capitol Hill. In Fiscal Year 2001, the PEP Bill was approved for $5 million. In FY 2002, Congress allotted $50 million; $60 million in FY 2003; $70 million in FY 2004; $73.4 million in FY 2005; and $72.7 million in FY 2006.
The PEP program has successfully enhanced K-12 physical education programs across the country through grants used for training in state-of-the-art health and wellness-based physical educations methods; the addition of new technology such as heart-rate monitors and pedometers; and the acquisition of state-of-the-art PE equipment and facilities.
“Its a well known fact that childhood obesity is growing at an alarming rate,” said Tom Cove, president of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, which helped spearhead the lobbying effort. “This meaningful legislation will help provide Americas children with the opportunity to learn about the importance of physical fitness in their daily lives. Our children need and deserve more physical education in our schools.”
“National PE Day is the perfect time to support the PEP grant program, which has helped thousands of children get active and make healthy choices,” said Anne Flannery, president/CEO of PE4life, the nations leading advocate for health and fitness-based physical education programs. “The PEP initiative is the only federal program that supports the development and growth of physical education programs in U.S. schools. Quality physical education programs are the best place to reach all our children — boys and girls, the fit and unfit, and the athletically-inclined or not with important health and wellness messages.”
“The role of physical activity in the life of a child is so important and must be encouraged,” said football great Herschel Walker. “When children are given the chance to exercise each day in school, they produce better academic results in the classroom. If you cut PE in schools, children will suffer.”
“If you teach a child the importance of exercise when they are in elementary school, theres a good chance that the person will become an active adult,” said Jim Baugh, the founder of PE4life and the current president of the Tennis Industry Association. “Far too many American children are not getting the opportunity to learn and enjoy the benefits of physical activity. Giving school districts access to grants from the PEP grant can help reverse that negative trend.”
On the evening of May 2nd, as a part of the National P.E. Day celebration, a large gathering of physical education advocates attended the 3rd Annual PE4life Awards Gala and Benefit Dinner, held at the Marriott at Metro Center in Washington, D.C. A silent auction was also held in conjunction with the dinner. Many of the sports celebrities that lobbied on Capitol Hill also attended the dinner. The purpose of this benefit was to honor the accomplishments of individuals and organizations who have distinguished themselves through their commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles for children. More than 150 people were in attendance.
At the Dinner, one of the awards presented that night was the PE4life National Excellence in Advocacy award. This award is presented to individuals or organizations that have worked tirelessly to advance the cause of physical education on a local, state or national level. Dr. John J, Ratey, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, was honored for his work as a national spokesperson for quality, daily physical education.
“Dr. Rateys work provides the scientific support for what weve intuitively believed for decades: a students ability to achieve academically is enhanced when he or she is physically fit,” said Flannery. “His research helps prove that physical activity is a critical element in a well-rounded educational model.”
On the afternoon of May 2nd, the PE4life Academy demonstration was open to the PE4life Dinner attendees and other visitors at the Marriott at Metro Center. At the demonstration, guests got the chance to experience the interactive fitness and assessment products now being used in PE4life programs around the country. Local school children were invited to experience a PE4life Academy-style program and exercise side-by-side with celebrity athletes and coaches.
